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MNN.COM›Health›Healthy Spaces›Photos›

15 houseplants for improving indoor air quality

15 houseplants for improving indoor air quality

Photo 1 of 17  
« Prev NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America studied houseplants. Next »
Photo: ivama/Flickr

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anonymous
megan 05/14/2012 00:15 AM

most of these plants i looked up and are dangerous to children

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anonymous
SpaOnPaces Today 16:45 PM

We have 3 of the 15 plants listed in our spa. We have the Golden Pothos, the Weeping Fig Plant and the Chinese Evergreen. It's great to know that they not only provide a calming earthy feel, but that they also help clean the air. Kudos!

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anonymous
Megan Zeutenhorst 03/28/2012 03:06 AM

Only one plant out of this entire list is non-toxic to cats. Pretty disappointing for pet owners who would also like some nice air-purifying house plants.

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marshamac.53
marshamac.53 05/20/2012 12:10 PM

Which plant is non-toxic to cats?

 

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anonymous
CarlaL 03/01/2012 19:47 PM

Have mint in your kitchen. The leaves are great for tea and calming to your stomach when used in salads. And when watered you enjoy a lovely fresh scent.

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anonymous
TalhaBaloch 10/10/2011 12:45 PM

chlorophytum comosum this plant absorbs carbon monoxide plant it as much as you can in cities

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anonymous
Sammy 06/23/2011 15:13 PM

Many of these plants actually ARE very toxic. Search each plant.

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anonymous
Stephanie 03/22/2011 05:50 AM

I can't get a vegetable past the lips of my pug, do dogs pick a leaf up from the floor and eat it? My cats ate the spider plants, I hope these are not poisonous - although my cats didn't die!

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anonymous
Katrina 06/05/2011 19:17 PM

you can buy that plastic rug-type stuff that you put on carpet under rolling office chairs (I'm not sure what it is called) that has the spikes on the bottom to prevent from sliding and put that under your plants if they are indoors. Cut to size if needed and lay with spike side facing up. this will keep your pets from eating the plants!

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anonymous
Anonymous 02/20/2012 15:52 PM

Doesnt work for my dogs they walk right over it with no problem although it might work for a cat I think their feet are more sensitive. My Jack russells love my banana trees and the dirt so I put the plastic runners under the planters with the pointy things up and they walk on it like nothing. Some animals might be different...

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nightowl22366
nightowl22366 11/21/2010 13:35 PM

Any of the plants on the list which can be toxic to pets can be hanging plants well out of reach of pets (and children, for that matter) and still do their "work" for you :-)
I especially enjoy Pothos, Philodendron, and Spider plants, myself! Aloe, is great for burns, too, as the article says. I found a few on the list that I don't have, though, and want to add to my little jungle :-)

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anonymous
Andi Newton 12/06/2010 15:42 PM

Except that hanging plants can still drop leaves, which pets can then eat.

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anonymous
Pat Schaub 09/05/2010 23:05 PM

Most of the plants listed in this article are contained in the ASPCA's list of plants toxic to dogs (did not check out cats).

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anonymous
Therese 08/24/2010 00:00 AM

I know it's not "non-toxic" but I've had good luck growing pothos in hanging planters in my home which is usually shaded due to excessive sunlight (heat) in west-facing apartment. Except if it's cold outside, of course. The plant seems to thrive on artificial (fluorescent) lighting, but I try to get full spectrum variety bulbs. And of course, if you have pets or small children, hanging them is the best way to keep them out of harms way.

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anonymous
Tracie 01/17/2011 17:42 PM

Philodendron is great for low light. When they get spindly, just cut them back and place the cuttings in water A Hoya (Hoja?) (spelling) - popular in South America is another succulent that is extremely low maintenance, but loves sun, also, Jade Tree or Plant, it's all semantics, (which is purported by the Feng Shui-ers to bring good luck, especially when arranged with 2 on the bottom, and a third on top (think a shelf that forms a Christmas Tree shape of plants!) Good Luck!

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anonymous
LA Rosen 08/18/2010 02:21 AM

I bought a couple Peace Lilies for my favorite dry cleaner... they spend a lot of time around the chemicals that just come off the clothes there. (They don't clean on premises. But fumes off-load from the racks.) I've also got some good ideas now for perfect housewarming and new office gifts since those environments are bound to have copious chemicals wafting through the air from new furniture, paint, carpet.... Just need to case their lighting situation and get the least green-thumb.... More

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anonymous
Lynne 08/18/2010 02:10 AM

I googled a very extensive list of non-toxic house plants. It is quite extensive and was very helpful to me and my 7 cats. The web site is: www.cfa.org/articles/plants-non-toxic.html Hope this helps!!

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anonymous
Mary Naventi 08/17/2010 22:55 PM

I 'd love to know which plants are good for cleaning the inside air in an appartment that has little sunlight.

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anonymous
laura 02/24/2011 17:33 PM

mother in law tongue, money plant and areca palm

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anonymous
Andrea 07/06/2010 14:19 PM

All but three of these palnts are toxic to cats and dogs: Spider plant, Gerber daisy, Bamboo palm.
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/
Thank you.

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anonymous
Katie 08/17/2010 10:28 AM

I just looked those up on the same website and they are NOT toxic to dogs or cats. You can have those in your house without worrying about your pets! :)

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anonymous
Sally 08/17/2010 23:18 PM

After readying your post I thought I would look it to double check that they are NOT toxic like you said. I don't think you looked at the website at all because they ARE toxic to cats and dogs. I am glad that I looked for myself. I love my dogs way to much to arm them because of a plant. I am sticking with the Gerber Daisy.

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anonymous
Denise 07/05/2010 08:17 AM

Wonderful idea but I must have plants that are cat friendly. My cats see any plants or flowers that I bring into the house as a salad, so I need non-poisonous plants.

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anonymous
Tracie 01/17/2011 17:47 PM

Grow a pot of cat grass (seed available in pet stores - look for Cosmic Kitty brand) and a small pot of catnip (at the florist in the spring) and Kitty will get HER veggies - not YOURS!!!!
Good Luck!!!

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anonymous
kiki 07/05/2010 10:18 AM

I don't know if they still do this, but 30 yrs ago when my children were little, the Poison Control Center had a small booklet that identified poisonous and non-poisonous plants. It was very helpful. Not complete, but good. There are also plant books that identify non-poisonous plants. I had a house full of them - wish I could remember what they were. Sorry.

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anonymous
Jasmine 04/18/2010 13:09 PM

Got a couple of plants from this list..But never knew they're helping me so much..Gotta hug them everyday for this..Going to try growing the other plants too..Thanks for the valuable information!!

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anonymous
John Bergdoll 03/11/2010 22:30 PM

You inspired me! Thanks. You've given me ideas for different locations in the house.

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A breath of fresh air

In the late '80s, NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America studied houseplants as a way to purify the air in space facilities. They found several plants that filter out common volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Lucky for us the plants can also help clean indoor air on Earth, which is typically far more polluted than outdoor air. Other studies have since been published in the Journal of American Society of Horticultural Science further proving the science. (Text: Julie Knapp)
 
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